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Importing Live Water Buffalo and Yak

into the United States

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USDA APHIS regulates the importation of all ruminants and their germplasm

(embryos/oocytes, semen, cloning tissue) to prevent the spread of animal diseases.

Ruminants include all animals which chew the cud, such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep,

goats, deer, antelopes, camels, llamas and giraffes.
View Countries From Which Water Buffalo, Yak, and Their Germplasm May Be

Import...

Requirements

Ports of Entry

Northern Border Ports

Idaho: Eastport

Maine: Houlton

Michigan: Detroit, Port Huron

Montana: Raymond, Sweetgrass

New York: Alexandria Bay, Buffalo/Niagara Falls

North Dakota: Dunseith, Pembina, and Portal

Vermont: Highgate Springs

Washington: Sumas

Air/Ocean

Newburg, NY

Miami, FL

Los Angeles, CA

** Please see 9CFR 93.403 for list of special/limited ports of entry

Northern Border Port of Entry Requirements

USDA APHIS VS requires confirmed pre-shipping approval from the Northern Border

Port Services (NBP) office for the import of all Canadian breeder yak and water

buffalo imports. See APHIS VS Field Operations Port Services Points of Contact for

Port Offices or email vs.nbp@usda.gov.

If the port of entry does not have adequate facilities to safely inspect such animals,

inspection will be deferred to the destination facility. The following steps are

required:
The importer must notify the NBP office at least 14 days in advance of the

proposed shipment, providing the address of the destination premises and the

scheduled date and time of arrival. The NBP office will arrange an inspection or

assessment of the destination facility, as appropriate, to approve the facility

prior to import. The NBP office will verify that VS personnel are available to

perform the inspection of the animals on the proposed date of arrival.

Once the facility is approved, the NBP office will immediately email notification

of the approval to the importer. The importer may then schedule an

appointment with the port of entry veterinary medical officer (VMO), at least 7

days in advance, for clearance. The shipment will not be allowed entry without

written (email) notification of approval.

A copy of the email approval notice from the NBP office must be presented to

the Port VMO, along with the completed VS Form 17-29, Declaration of

Importation (125.81 KB), the required import permit and the original CFIA

endorsed export health certificate.

After clearance at the port, the import water buffalo/yaks will be released. If the

port inspection is not possible, the animals must proceed to the destination

state under seal to the previously approved destination premises for inspection.

Live Animals

Canada, a permit and export health certificate are required for the import

of breeding animals. Only the export health certificate is required for

immediate slaughter animals.

Protocol Breeding Water Buffalo and Yak from Canada (270.86 KB)

Protocol Immediate Slaughter Water Buffalo and Yak from Canada (229.03 KB)

Note: Water Buffalo and Yak used for zoological purposes can be permitted into the

US on a case-by-case basis after a full review by USDA APHIS depending on the

country of origin. Please contact Live Animal Imports for more information.

Embryos

These health certificates allow the import of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and yak

(Bos grunniens) embryos.
European Union, a permit and export health certificate are required

Model Health Certificate Bovid Embryo Import from the European Union (212.49

KB) December 2019

United Kingdom (Great Britain, Northern Ireland), a permit and export

health certificate are required

Health Certificate Bovid Embryo Import from Great Britain

Health Certificate Bovid Embryo Import from Northern Ireland

Semen

These health certificates allow the import of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and yak

(Bos grunniens) semen.

European Union, a permit and export health certificate are required

Model Health Certificate Bovid Semen Import from the European Union (246.24

KB)

United Kingdom (Great Britain, Northern Ireland), a permit and export

health certificate are required

Health Certificate: Bovid Semen Import from Great Britain

(publishing.service.gov.uk)

Health Certificate: Bovid Semen Import from Northern Ireland

(publishing.service.gov.uk)

What You Need To Know

U.S. transits are classified as shipments presented to a U.S. port of entry for

conveyance purposes to then be transported to a destination country shortly

after. Notice Regarding APHIS Live Animal Import and Third-Country Import

Transit Permits (272.29 KB).
Please note that any animals and their germplasm transiting the United States

must not transit countries with questionable disease statuses prior to reaching

a U.S. port of entry.

All transits require a contingency plan. Please submit your contingency plan

with your permit application (VS 17-129 (106.94 KB)) to laipermits@usda.gov.

To submit an import permit electronically, visit APHIS eFile.

If you are applying to import live animals, semen, and embryos, you may submit

applications by email to laipermits@usda.gov

Contact Us

Live Animal Imports

For questions about import permits or permit applications:

Live Animal Import Permit Team

Email: laipermits@usda.gov

Phone: 301-851-3000

For general questions related to the import of a live animal:

Live Animal Import and Export

Email: laie@usda.gov

Phone: 301-851-3300

All Contacts